Soak Up the Nostalgia with Pastel-Hued Cali Landscapes

Los Angeles-based artist Maxwell McMaster’s newest body of work, Waves, reverberates California nostalgia in pastel toned hues. The Creators Project got a chance to catch up with McMaster just before his exhibition at The Standard Hotel, Hollywood to discuss his workflow challenges, changes and, of course, the iconic Los Angeles sunset.

Set on typical day in Southern California, McMaster’s paintings are relatable visions of the classic palm treed landscape, romanticized from the usual freeway grind. “I started painting these clouds from photos I took when I was stuck in traffic on the 10 East.” McMaster tells The Creators Project. This imagery is commonplace to many in Los Angeles, a city famous for its driver’s culture. So what would the soundtrack to this recent series sound like? “Something sexy and smoothed out I guess,” jokes McMaster.

“I completed three new paintings for my show at The Standard, Hollywood,” he tells us, “One large one in the box behind the reception desk and two smaller ones on either side. All of the paintings explore the feeling of life here in Southern California, exuding beauty on the surface with hints of melancholy underneath.”

Like many inspired and evolving artists, McMaster’s work shows a transformation, shifting focus from his past paintings to his current series. “I really didn’t think about it much,”  McMaster says, “I suppose the only thing constant is change and I’m always changing, therefore so is my work. My most recent work has really been very contemplative, and meditative I guess. This is probably due to having a bunch of crazy stuff happen in my life this past year, relationships ending, being homeless for a short while and getting into a car accident.”

 “I’ve also started using photo references again,” he continued, “which is something I haven’t done in a long time. I really try to be as free as possible with my work, if I stick to any one thing or try to remain consistent with past works I will not have motivation to make anything new. The idea is to keep the work flowing as steadily as possible.”

Pastel hues resonate California vibes in McMasters newest work, delivering that same warmth one would hope to find in thrifted memorabilia or a rich, dusty record. “I try to connect with things that have a timeless quality. I appreciate elements from different time periods from the 1960’s to today. I really enjoy work that explores the past and evolves or reconstructs for the present. I feel like everything that seems new is some kind of remix or evolution from a past idea,” he says.

His early influences and encounters with art play a large role in his current output as well.  “I grew up with some very hip parents. A lot of the art I was exposed to early on was from the album covers of my father’s record collection. I was always into psychedelic art. I remember watching Yellow Submarine as a kid and I didn’t understand what I was watching at the time but It definitely had an impact on me,” McMaster recalls.

The future promises the same momentum for the artist, “This year the goal is the same as always, to make more work and continue to challenge myself,” McMaster tells us. “I’m hoping to get a larger body of work compiled and work on more large scale pieces. I want to explore new mediums such as animation and sound in my work.  I’m hoping to do more shows and possibly curate a show as well. Big things”

Maxwell McMaster’s Waves opens at The Standard, Hollywood on Friday January 15th, 7pm. For more information, click here.

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